Victoria Realtor Stephen Foster talks about the current real estate market conditions for Victoria and the Gulf Islands from the Oak bay Marina in Victoria.
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Victoria Real Estate, babies & boats by Stephen Foster
February 3rd, 2012Meet and Greet Paul McCallum and the Grey Cup
February 2nd, 2012Meet and greet Paul McCallum and the Grey Cup event took place on Friday, January 27th at the Macdonald Realty Maple Ridge office. Approximately 100 people attended and took pictures with Paul McCallum - CFL All Star Kicker, Award Winning Record holder and Macdonald Realty Realtor.
Macdonald Realty Maple Ridge staff at the "Meet and Greet with Paul McCallum and the Grey Cup" event
For more information contact the Maple Ridge Managing broker Harvey Exner.
Overwhelmed by all the Real Estate Chatter in the News?
January 31st, 2012
Darin Germyn, Macdonald Realty Surrey
Prices are falling! Hold Hold Hold! Don’t buy until next month! Rates are the lowest they have been since yesterday! Overseas Buyers increase market by 300%!
It is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the chatter over Real Estate in the news print, on TV and radio. The challenge with what you hear or see is that everyone has an opinion and there is many ways to share them nowadays. Through Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and any media outlet looking to get their story in front of you, it can be a lot to process. So how do you make the best decisions for you?
North Shore painter/REALTOR® credited for 2012 calendar partnership
January 27th, 2012
"Christmas Morning" by Barbara Ohl, NSAG & Macdonald Realty
Local painter, and REALTOR® at the Macdonald Realty North Vancouver office, Barbara Ohl joined the Macdonald Realty calendar committee last spring with the idea of shining a light on artists from the North Shore. For 30 years Macdonald Realty has worked with different local arts groups to source original art for the company’s annual custom calendar. Ohl, an active member of The North Shore Artists’ Guild, recognized the opportunity to build a relationship between these two groups and suggested NSAG for the 2012 calendar.
When the time came to select the 13 paintings to be featured in the calendar, Ohl removed herself from the selection committee, but was excited to find her submission was selected represent December. Ohl’s “Christmas Morning” is now one of the 13 paintings currently part of an online auction at www.macrealty.com/charityartauction with proceeds going to the North Shore based non-profit organization, The Cascadia Society.
Macdonald Realty Asia Typhoons Charity Event
January 26th, 2012To our many Donors, Sponsors, Supporters, Volunteers, Realtors, Families and Friends,
I just wanted to express my thanks and to congratulate Macdonald Realty for its support of a very successful fundraising event on Jan 14. Despite the snow, more than 200 people trekked out to the Ridge Theatre and enjoyed Kung Fu Panda 2, with donuts, coffee, hot chocolate, chips and soda donated by Safeway, Starbucks, Tim Horton’s and Superstore.
There were door prizes, a 50/50 draw,a silent auction with prizes donated by many of the local businesses such as Yyoga, Starbucks, White Spot, Secret Garden, Mac Shack, Mary Kay, The Runn Inn, The Bay Decleor Cosmetics, Open Door Yoga and Bella Nails. There were more than 30 items and realtor, Elke Lee generously supported our auction, winning bids on 7 silent auction items.
Thank you to the realtors were in attendance with their clients and to the many volunteers who worked very hard behind the scenes before, during and after to promote and facilitate the event.
Calling all community arts groups, be part of next year’s calendar!
January 19th, 2012
"Morning Stroll" by Gordon Davis, NSAG
For over 30 years Macdonald Realty has produced a unique and exciting custom calendar that features original art by local artists. This winter over 12,000 calendars showcasing paintings by members of the North Shore Artists Guild were sent out across the province. These 13 paintings are currently part of an online art auction at www.macrealty.com/charityartauction with proceeds going to a local non-profit organization, The Cascadia Society.
The Macdonald Realty calendar has always featured original art or photography ranging from historic photos from the Vancouver Archives (1980, 1981) to local artists commissioned to produce original artwork, including Robin Arkell (1990, 1991), Drew Burnham (1992, 1993), Nancy Day (1994, 1995), Jennifer Garant (1996), Crystal Deshaies (1997), Jane Wolsak (1998) and Heather Aston (1999).
Preparing your Home to Sell: Simple Tips
January 17th, 2012
Greg & Liz Holmes - Macdonald Realty Surrey
Is your home show ready? Before you list your home for sale, here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Remove clutter and clear off counters.
Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small, personal decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, remove out of season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Get rid of family pictures, trophies and knickknacks. Make sure to clean out the garage too.
2. Wash your windows and screens.
This will help get more light into the interior of the home as well as looks better.
3. Keep everything extra clean.
A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, clean the stove and fridge. Polish your doorknobs (inside and out) and address numbers.
North Shore charity to benefit from the Art Auction
January 12th, 2012
North Shore charity The Cascadia Society to benefit from art auction
"Home" by Anne Marie Calder, NSAG
The painting featured in the 2012 Macdonald Realty calendar for the month of April is of the exterior of The Cascadia Society’s Day Centre at 351 West 19th Street in North Vancouver. The painting entitled “Home” is one of 13 paintings by members of The North Shore Artists’ Guild that are part of an online art auction through January 31st at www.macrealty.com/charityartauction with proceeds going to The Cascadia Society.
Cascadia is a life-sharing community which specializes in working with adults with special needs. Its home is the urban setting of Vancouver’s North Shore, with several residences and a day centre. Participants have the opportunity to learn skills such as gardening, weaving, basketry, and candlemaking ,as well as learning to live and grow together in community. Cascadia provides a setting where everyone can feel at home and can also make a meaningful contribution to the community. For more information, visit them online at www.cascadiasociety.org .
How to Save Money on the Mortgage Penalty
January 10th, 2012
Tips on how to save money when you’re selling your house by Donna Harper, Macdonald Realty Langley.
REBGV Stats December 2011
January 6th, 2012Balanced real estate market prevailed through much of 2011
The 2011 Greater Vancouver housing market began with heightened demand in regional hot spots and concluded with greater balance between seller supply and buyer demand.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that total sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in 2011 reached 32,390, a 5.9 per cent increase from the 30,595 sales recorded in 2010, and a 9.2 per cent decrease from the 35,669 residential sales in 2009. Last year’s home sale total was 6.3 per cent below the ten-year average for annual Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) sales in the region.